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I’ve been getting quite a few email and calls asking about next year’s Winterfest. Figured I had better get some information published so at least you will know the dates and prices. . . so you can begin planning on being with us for this very special Uechi-ryu event. Dates: March 10 – 11 – …

David sent me this wonderful book on the day Sue and I were leaving for Summerfest. I had time to open the package and scan the contents before heading for the airport. With all the lugage. . . nearly all Susan’s of course. . . I forgot to put the book into my backpack! My …

by Dr. Paul Haydu Stance and Structure Sanchin is an Adduction Stance. Sanchin provides strength in 7 of 8 directions, unless you make an adjustment, which allows coverage of the eighth direction. The ground is an unlimited source of power. Study how to access that power: Sound structure, sensitivity, experimentation, proper positioning and relaxation into …

This year’s Winterfest featured, what I consider to be, a very interesting and important self-defense topic and test.The ability to combine a calm alertness with the skill to go from a normal walking or standing posture into a reaction-ready fighting mode able to deliver a strike within a fraction of a second . I’ve been training …

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching. We would like to suggest giving a Uechi ring. We recently placed an order, but there have been some requests for info since then. If there is enough interest, we will place another order. Rings must be ordered by January 14 to ensure delivery by Valentine’s Day. Here is the …

Shambhala Publications just sent me Kenji Tokitsu’s latest book to review. Tokitsu, you may remember, also wrote a wonderful book on the life of Musashi (reviewed in this section) and therefore I was most interested to see what he had to say about Karate.

I was most pleased that he focused on karate as an art instead of simply another way to kill an opponent or win a tournament match.

“Budo, the way of the martial arts, is at heart a path of spiritual cultivation and self-realization whose aim is to develop a strategic mind that makes combat unnecesary. Kenji Tokitsu explains the philosophy of karate as budo and looks deeply at the key concepts that are essential for developing the budo mind in karate practice. These concepts are:

distance and timing

rhythm, anticipation and intuition,

and the cultivation of explosive but focused energy.

These concepts are difficult to teach, but mastering them is the ultimate goal of any true martial artist. Tokitsu expertly guides the reader through these elusive ideas with clarity and a practical view.”

Uechi-ryu practitioner Paul Sweeney has written an excellent book . . .”Gleanings of a ten-year odyssey in Asian clinics, temples and dojo”. . . which all martial artist and alternate health enthusiasts should enjoy reading. Paul sent me this email along with a copy of his book:

Hi Mattson Sensei:

I just wanted to update my phone number under Arizona dojo listing if possible. I originally had the good fortune to train under Sensei Walter Mattson many years ago before heading to Japan(uechi) and China(whooping crane) to train in dojos and hospitals for 10 years. I received my yon-dan in Uechi from Uehara Sensei in 2000. As I became so busy with patients and research for many years, I got away from teaching. I will be back in Asia training and doing hospital work(acupuncture) again this summer. Hope to start a new class in the Fall at my Phoenix clinic/dojo.

I wanted to let you know that I published a book called “Health Over Harmony” a few years ago about insights I learned training in Asian clinics and dojo for ten years. It has patient case studies, oriental medicine essays, and microbiology/raw food research(paleo diets including raw meats). There is also a chapter called “Martial Arts and Brain Coherence”.

It is on Amazon etc and I will send you a copy just in case there is something in it which you may find interesting.Hope you and your family are well.

Everyone had a great time. . . especially the competitors. The Florida FireDragon Fitness Challenge was held in Mount Dora, Florida on Saturday, March 31st and everyone in attendance thought this was going to become an important program for children and adults of all ages.

Do you have friends, loved ones, family, or a sensei on Okinawa? Do you enjoy visiting Okinawa for travel, training, testing, competition? While here, do you enjoy Okinawan food and drink? Do you love the Okinawan children, and watching them play, compete, and grow?

Do you have relatives in the US Military stationed here on Okinawa? If you are a military member, are you about to be stationed here on the island?

And will you bring your family – your spouse and young children – with you?

It is the information on the new CORE Certification on US Fighitng Systems and how we are introducing to the martial arts schools. FInally we are all set to launch. at this time i have 7 schools and in June I iwll hve 10 more and in July 11 more form the west coast.

I hope you and your family are in the bet of health and hope to see you sometime to catch up and enjoy a good meal. THanks again for all your friendship and support over the last few years.

At this year’s JLFS Annual Research Conference, the executive board passed a resolution to create National Joe Lewis Day. This initiative gives martial arts schools an opportunity to honor Joe Lewis on his birthday-week, with either a Kick-a-thon or Spar-a-thon fundraiser.

Mr. Lewis’ birthday is March 7th and Joe Lewis Day is set for the following Saturday, March 10th. All proceeds will go to a special fund set up to help and assist Joe Lewis as he continues to be treated and recovers from his brain cancer.

“Joe Lewis Day has been created to help with some of the huge financial burden that such a serious illness can create.” says Jim Graden, a 7th degree master in the JLFS and the person heading up this initiative. Jim continues, “Joe Lewis is the smartest and most giving person I have ever met. Considered by many to be the greatest American martial artist of the 20th century, Joe Lewis Day has been created to help a man who has inspired multiple generations of martial artists and has always given of his knowledge so unselfishly.”

2012 FireDragon Challenge

Mission Statement:

The FireDragon Challenge was conceived by George E. Mattson in 2001 as a way to motivate karate students and teachers to test their physical potential with a challenging set of exercises that measures their martial art potential. Mattson asked Dr. William Glasheen, a scientist and martial art teacher, to design the challenge, using simple-to-perform and understand exercises that could become a widely accepted tool for measuring general fitness goals using popular competitive and individual motivating incentive and measurements.